Washwood Heath Depot and Network Integrated Control Centre
Washwood Heath Depot, the operational heart of HS2, is set to create over 550 jobs in the local area.
It was recently granted Schedule 17 approval by Birmingham City Council for its maintenance facility and main control centre.
The Council granted Schedule 17 approval under the HS2 Phase One Act 2017, for HS2’s Washwood Heath Depot, north-east of Birmingham city centre. This is where HS2 trains will be maintained, serviced and stored when not in use, and includes the Maintenance Building, Network Integrated Control Centre (NICC) and Cleaners and Drivers Building.
All the buildings have been designed to celebrate engineering and provide sustainable working, as well as outdoor amenity spaces for staff. The designs have been produced by HS2’s Engineering Delivery Partner (EDP).
Operational facilities
The Maintenance Building will be the primary hub of operations within the site, used to maintain the HS2 train fleet along with facilities to store materials and equipment. It includes office accommodation, workshops and staff welfare facilities. Around 250 staff will work in the building, including facilities management, fleet management, production, cleaning, and depot drivers.
The Network Integrated Control Centre will oversee the whole HS2 network and is located centrally within the Washwood Heath depot site. This will be a standalone building, designed to accommodate the operational and management functions of the HS2 network. Over 100 staff will be based here.
The Cleaners and Drivers Building is located in the depot’s western area and will host facilities for train servicing teams and driver training. This building will be linked to the stabling yard area, where trains will be cleaned and replenished, ready for passenger service. Around 200 staff will be based here.
The Stabling Yard area is located towards the west side of the depot site and will be where the trains are parked whilst not in operation.
Work on site to date includes demolition of buildings and groundworks to prepare the site for the construction of the new Depot and Control Centre. A major earthworks milestone has also been reached with over one million cubic metres of earth excavated. As part of a cut and fill exercise, the recycled material has been cleaned and reused to level the ground, paving the way for detailed design and construction of the new maintenance depot and control centre to start in 2024.
Slide 1 of 10: Artist's impression: Aerial View of Washwood Heath Depot
Slide 2 of 10: Artist's impression: Cleaners and Drivers Building Exterior View 1
Slide 3 of 10: Artist's impression: Cleaners and Drivers Building Exterior View 2
Slide 4 of 10: Artist's impression: HS2 Washwood Heath Maintenance Building Entrance - Eastern Approach Viewpoint
Slide 5 of 10: Artist's impression: HS2 Washwood Heath Maintenance Building Entrance View
Slide 6 of 10: Artist's impression: Maintenance Building Exterior View 3
Slide 7 of 10: Artist's impression: Maintenance Building WWH
Slide 8 of 10: Artist's impression: Network Inetrgrated Control Centre View 2
Slide 9 of 10: Artist's impression: Network Integrated Contol Centre View 1
Slide 10 of 10: Artist's impression: View of NICC from the South
Depot design
The design of the buildings provides for a high level of controlled, natural lighting and reduces the need for artificial lighting during the daytime. Solar roof panels, reusing rainwater runoff from some of the building roofs, sustainable drainage, renewable energy, low carbon materials and intelligent lighting provide additional environmental benefits during construction and operation.
Accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists has been incorporated into the design, with dedicated pedestrian and cyclist routes connecting with Birmingham’s future transport network. In addition to car parks, provision is included for electric vehicle charging points, cycle and motorcycle parking for staff and visitors, and parking for individuals with limited mobility at all depot facilities, alongside taxi and delivery vehicle drop off zones.
Design engagement
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